Project description
Synthetic reporter to detect T cell dysfunction in cancers
Cell-based immunotherapy, particularly adoptive cell transfer (ACT) with engineered T cells, holds promise for treating cancer. However, challenges such as manufacturing processes, excessive antigen exposure, and a hostile tumour microenvironment can lead to dysfunctional T cell products, reducing their effectiveness against both blood cancers and solid tumours. The ERC-funded SynT project aims to develop a synthetic reporter system to detect T cell dysfunction, utilising dual synthetic locus control region (sLCR) reporters. One reporter will indicate when T cells are in ‘serial killer’ mode, while the other will signal dysfunction. The project will also identify external signalling and pharmacological modulators to enhance CAR T cell function and develop a media supplement to improve the effectiveness of ACT products.
Objective
"Cell-based immunotherapy, particularly adoptive cell transfer (ACT) using engineered T cells, holds great promise as a therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. However, challenges such as the manufacturing process, excessive antigen exposure, and the hostile tumor microenvironment often lead to dysfunctional T cell products, limiting their effectiveness in treating both blood cancers and solid tumors. We propose a novel tool to define in vitro conditions to enhance T cell product fitness through the development of a synthetic reporter system for detecting T cell dysfunction states, referred to as SynT. This innovative system will incorporate a dual synthetic locus control region (sLCR) reporter, with one sLCR reporter indicating T cells in a potent ""serial killer"" mode and another sLCR reporter representing T cell dysfunction. By using SynT, we aim to screen for external signaling and pharmacological modulators that can enrich and reverse the dysfunctional state in CAR T cells. we will generate and validate a synthetic reporter of CAR T cell products function and dysfunction, and produce a media supplement that promotes ACT products functions.
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Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine oncology
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology immunotherapy
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2023-POC
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13125 Berlin
Germany
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